Dial-a-ride Users May See Fares Rise

October 27, 1999|By Diana Stzralka.

ORLAND PARK — The Orland Park Village Board's Public Works, Building and Engineering Committee has approved a fare increase to $1 from 65 cents for students, seniors and people with disabilities who ride the local Dial-A-Ride.

If approved Monday by the board, the measure would also increase fares for adult bus riders, to $2 from $1.30.

Orland Hills residents, who also use the service, would pay $2.35, a 17.5 percent increase from the current $2 fare.

The fares don't begin to cover the costs of running the service, which has been operating with the suburban bus agency Pace for 13 years, said Village Manager Rick Boehm.

"Most of the riders are seniors and persons with disabilities," he said.

The service, which is scheduled by 24-hour reservation rather than a fixed route, is offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday. More than 25,000 passengers last year rode the bus, said village spokeswoman Patty Vlazny.